THE

HARVEST FIELD.

AUGUST, 1888.

BEAL N ATIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN INDIA.

B y t h e R e v . E d w i n L e w i s ,

ONE of the most fruitful sources of grief the Christian missionary knows, is that many who bear the Christian

name have not the spirit of Christ, but walk unworthy of the name they bear. Those native Christians who come most under the notice of those European Christians who are not members of the missionary circle are in this respect the most unsatis­factory. It rarely happens that we can regard as good types of the followers of Jesus in this country household servants on the one hand, or, on the other hand, the steadily increasing class of men, who, with a knowledge of the English language and an enterprising spirit, have broken away from the tradi­tional occupation of their fathers and found employment as “ contractors” in Public Works, officials in Government service, or the Medical Department. We do not distrust all members of these classes. There are some noble exceptions. The presence of a native Christian official in a country district is sometimes a power for good, a gain to the cause of justice and righteousness, a testimony to the truth of Chris­tianity, and a help to the Christian community. But it more often happens that the enterprising, pushing, successful young man, fresh from oue of our Christian colleges, has learned to regard himself as a superior being to the “ common, ignorant, country folk.” He will not condescend to associate with a village congregation, and hardly likes to be known as a Chris­tian in the presence of the “ humbler classes.'"’ Men with such a spirit often fall into bad habits, especially that of intemperance, and rarely do good to themselves or anybody else.

Unfortunately, yet very suggestively, the native Christians who are of all others the most unsatisfactory, are those engag­

6

38 REAL NATIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN INJ)1A.

ed in such employments as bring them most into contact with Europeans, and this has given rise to the notion which seems general, that native Christians become anglicised in their dress, food and habits of life, and that morally they seem to be little benefitted by their Christianity.

So far as our experience goes the spirit of Christianity has the firmest hold in India upon a different class from the above mentioned, upon individuals and families who live in a dif­ferent sphere, who know but little of the English style of life, who never have converse with any Europeans except the mis­sionary family, and who are certainly never taught to desire foreign modes of life. These live for the most part in small towns or villages, and are strangers to the ways of the large towns and cities. They have been taught that “ the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.” They pursue the ordinary calling of their class in social life; some are goldsmiths and carpen­ters and weavers, some are merchants and cultivators of the soil. They live in the same houses as they occupied before they became Christians; they wear the same kind of clothing, eat the same kind of food, as their neighbours; here and there may be seen indications, that, as their means allow, they look for what may be called home comforts. They have abandoned heathen practices, have no idols in their houses, do not follow idolatrous ceremonies or join in heathen festivals, but instead have the Bible, hymn book, and such books and tracts as they can procure, hold family worship, read and sing, welcome the Christian teacher, and pay some attention to the educa­tion of their children in religious knowledge. Here and there the walls of one room in the house may be found decorated with a few simple pictures and a text of Scripture in the vernacular, such as, “ As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” They wear on their persons no marks of caste ; they are not invited to marriage and other ceremonies and festivities amongst the caste people, for by baptism they have been cut off from caste, but in other respects, in out­ward appearance and manner of life, they are Hindus.

A young man of the trading class, a Lingait, became a Christian some years ago, and for a time carried on his trade. He was a good man, apt in learning, and in teaching what he knew. After some training he was appointed a catechist, and married a young widow, a Jangam, who had become a Christian. They were appointed to work in a small town in the district, which was known to be very bigoted. Both husband and wife were known and respected by itíany people

REAL NATIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN INDIA. 39

in the town. They were regarded with wonderment by their friends on account of their having become Christians, and were often interrogated in this manner: “ What lack had you that you should have given up your caste? What have you gained by becoming Christians?” They were closely watched by their neighbours who wanted to see what new style of life they had adopted ; and after a while it was remarked by some, “ We have been trying to find out what foreign modes of life you have been taught; but we see that you dress as we do ; you cook your food in the same way as we do; you eat and drink as we do.” And these very people were surprised and delighted when they were told that the religion of Jesus was a spiritual religion, and consisted in “ denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living godly and righteously and soberly in the present world.” The life and spirit and work of these two Christians have been a great power for God. They have had their crosses to bear, and by patiently and cheerfully bearing them have been faithful and true witnesses for Christ. They were at first told by the townspeople that they could not be allowed to draw water from what was the only public well in the place, on account of caste prejudices. The reply made was, “ If it will injure you for us to take the water we will not touch it; we will get what we want from the stream which is not fat off.” After a year or two, by dint of great perseverance and courage the young teacher succeeded in digging a well in his own premises. He was further warned that the barbers employed in the town would be forbidden to shave him ; he replied, “ I will bear this also if necessary. I will get a razor and shave myself.” This he did. How he managed to shave his own head was a puzzle to us; he accomplished it however, till at length the prejudice against the barber shaving the head of a Christian man, passed away. This teacher is now regarded by all classes in the town as a friend and helper, ready for every good word and work His house is open to all every day and the visitors are numerous. The largest room in the house, where Christian worship is held day by day, is generally full in the evening. He and his wife are not anglicised Christians, but emphatically Indian Christians.

In the same town lives a young man, a goldsmith by trade, who for some time has been a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Hindus. He has been recognized and honour­ed beyond most of his caste as an honest workman, truthful and pious. When downhearted, troubled by temptation or vexed by doubts, he would lay aside his work; go secretly

40 REAL NATIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN INDIA.

to the catechist just mentioned, whose house was close by, read with him some portion of the Bible, join in prayer and return refreshed to his business. He lived a guileless life, was influenced in thought, word and deed by faith in Christ. He could not be satisfied by following Jesus secretly and some months ago asked to be baptized. I enquired in the town whether he was likely to lose the trust of his friends by becoming a Christian. The answer given was, “ N. is well known, and will be trusted more than ever, for he will have now to maintain the honour of the Christian name/’ He and his household are living examples of true Indian Christians.

A young widow became a Christian through listening a few times to public preaching, and on being asked how she came to believe in Christ and to receive His doctrine, replied, “ I suppose it was because God opened my heart tha t I should receive him.” I have never met with man or woman born in a heathen family and brought up in the midst of heathenism, who has so thoroughly put .off the old life and become so imbued with the spirit of Christ, as this woman. In word and deed she may be classed with the devout women who followed our Lord, and ministered to Him in the days of His flesh.

A few months ago when travelling in a railway carriage, a Brahman who thought himself and his caste people righteous and despised others, found that the man seated next to him, .who was evidently poor and unlearned, was a Christian. The Brahman took the opportunity, in the presence of his fellow travellers, to condemn all Christians in India, as people who had embraced the Christian religion for the sake of what they could, get in the way of food, clothing and money. When he had finished his speech the Christian said, “ Sir, you are a Brahman and perhaps learned, but you know very little about Christians, still less about Christ. I am a Christian, my wife and children are Christians, also some of my relations and friends. I challenge you to point to one of us who has embraced Christianity for the sake of food as you say. These hands of mine minister to my wants. I support by honest labour those who are dependant upon me. We believe in Christ. He is our Saviour. I cannot read but I will tell you something of what I know.” He then in simple but eloquent words declared what Jesus had done for him. The effect upon the listeners was most convincing I have to-day listened to the testimony given by this simple-minded Christian, in a village we have visited together, and feel that men of this spirit will put to shame the pride of gainsayers.

INTERVIEW WITH RAJAH SIR T. MAD A Y A ROW, K.C.S.I. H

I wish that half the theories believed, whether by friends or foes, about the Christian people of India, and about Chris­tian work, were formed upon real knowledge of the work done, and the men and women who compose the Christian community. Of this, I am sure, that the best fruit of our work is known to very few Europeans. Those whom I have briefly referred to, and such as those, are our “ joy and crown.”

IN TERVIEW W ITH R A JAH SIR T. M ADAVAROW\ e .g.s .i .

W E have pleasure this month in presenting our readers with the results of an interview courteously afforded by Rajah Sir

T. Madava Row, k .c.s .i . Within the limits of the Indian Empire his name is familiar to every one, as that of one who has occupied and adorned the most important political positions at present open to the sons of India. Apart from his political influence, however, the Rajah has interested himself in social and religious reforms ; and his recent strictures on Astrology prove him to be anxious to put aside all hampering superstition. Notwithstanding this independ­ence of mind, however, Sir T. Madava Row belongs distinctly to the old school. While his common-sense triumphs over the palpable absurdities of modem Hinduism, his mind does not seem to have pushed its investigations very far into systems other than his own. His opinions, therefore, as recorded below, must be taken as those of a good Hindu whose knowledge of Christianity is not intimate. He is a very fair representative of the multitudes of his countrymen who have learnt something of the Christian religion from current literature, newspapers, and occasional interviews with missionaries, but who have never given serious and anxious attention to the character, claims, and teachings of Jesus Christ. As representing so large a mass of opinion the following pages will be found by our readers to be peculiarly instructive.

Interviewer.— How would you describe your attitude to present- day Hinduism ?

Rajah Sir T. Madava Row.— Hinduism has undoubtedly been a vast and beneficent power, mainly in India, and largely even beyond it. It has disciplined and humanised millions of men and women through countless generations and unmeasured time. It has con­verted the ignorant and fierce savage into an intelligent and tender­hearted citizen. Its effects in these respects cannot but appear to the philosopher marvellous and unparalleled. In this view, my attitude towards Hinduism in general is one of respect, grati­tude and admiration. Like all old institutions, it has undergone deterioration in some respects. With all that, Hinduism appears far better suited to the Hindus than any other theological system.

42 INTERVIEW WITH RAJAS SIR T. MAD A VA ROW, K.C.S.I.

The Hinduism of the present day should he rather tolerated, purified and improved than destroyed and superseded. There is reason to presume that the human race, in its further religious and moral evolution, will more and more approach Hinduism in its highest conception as regards the necessity of faith, devotion, self-culture and self-restraint.

Interviewer.— Do you think there is much real religiousness among educated Hindus at present, or do you find scepticism chiefly prevalent ? If the latter, has that scepticism regard to Hinduism chiefly, or to other religions also ? What do you think is the cause of it ?

The Rajah.— I think there is far more religiousness among the masses of the Hindu population than among those of many other populations.

I think there is more religiousness or less irreligiousness among the educated classes of Hindus than among the educated classes of some other communities.

Scepticism has made some progress in India as it has elsewhere. Scepticism in India is characterized by this, that it is found more in tempestuous youth than in settled age. Whatever scepticism prevails has regard to Hindusim in the first instance, but more largely to other religions.

Interviewer.— Do you believe there is much chance of a revived and reformed Hinduism for the masses of the people ? In view of the prevalent Western training, do you think a reformed Hinduism would ever command the attention and allegiance of the educated classes ? What chance of prevalence has such religious teaching as that of Mr. Ragunatha Row ?

The Rajah.—A revived and reformed Hinduism has, I think, far greater chance among Hindus than any other religion.

Religious teachings like those of Ragunatha Row aiming at renovation and repair have a greater chance of prevalence than those which aim at destruction and substitution.

Interviewer,.— Do you think a revived national Hinduism would strengthen or weaken the national aspirations of the people, as indi­cated in the National Congress ? Might not this revived national Hinduism prevent Christians and Muhammadans from joining with Hindus in seeking truly national objects, and thus hinder true national unity and progress ? If so, what is your advice to those reformers who are perpetually preaching up a natianal Hinduism ?

The Rajah.—I think that political development will, in a con­siderable degree, proceed independently of religious development.

Interviewer.— What do you consider to be the weak points in the present system of education ? Would you have all schools, Govern­ment and aided, teach morality based on religion ? Or would you

. hare religious teaching left to the parents ?

INTERVIEW WITS RAJAH SIR T. MADAVA ROW, K.C.S.I' 43

The R ajah .-*I would leave religious teaching to the parents or to such agencies as they like, but I would like all schools to teach general or universal morality. The absence of this teaching, I consider, is a great defect in the present system of education.

Interviewer.— Do you think the common ground between the three great sects of Hindus is sufficient to make it possible for Hinduism to be taught in a Theological College to Hindus generally ?

The Rajak.— The differences among the three great sects of Hindus are, from a practical point of view, not so great as to create any in­superable obstacle. Those differences relate to very abstract and ultimate matters which do not necessarily or materially affect general conduct in this life.

Interviewer.—Do you think that rebellion against the restraints of caste and tradition is increasing among the educated ? Are the secret evidences of that rebellion— in regard to food and drink, for instance— very widespread ? Do you believe there is little chance of improvement until reform has had its martyrs ?

The Rajah.— The restraints of caste and tradition are widespread and deep-rooted. They being the growth of ages, it will take ages to relax them. They are the strongest among the masses of the Hindu population. They must be weakened with the progress of reason. They are accordingly weakened more or less among those who have received Western education ; but this is a class which is a mere drop in the ocean.

Interviewer.— What do you think of the work and prospects of Christianity ? How do you suppose its large extension is likely to affect India ? Have you any strictures or advices to offer Christian missionaries P Could you tell them, e. g., how to get still nearer to the people ?

The Rajah.— As regards the work and prospects of Christianity, I think the work has been greatly instrumental in promoting useful knowledge and in abating ignorance and superstition. It has undoubtedly done good to those classes of people in India who would otherwise have suffered from no religion or from a very bad religion. I am one of those who are of opinion that dogmatic Christianity has little chance of finding general acceptance in India. A large extension of Christianity in India is scarcely possible as just stated. Any large nominal or superficial extension of it would, it may be feared, introduce many undesirable elements of unsettlement, social discord, strife and misery, rather increasing than diminishing the difficulties of Government Christian mis­sionaries will do well to promote peace, good-will, knowledge and happiness in all gradual and persuasive ways, not less by example than by precepts. I would suggest to them that repair would be better, easier a/nd safer than reconstruction. They would get still nearer to the people by benefitting them morally, intellectually and

u THE AMERICAN MARATHI MISSION.

materially, and by less aggressive action religiously. The great caution to be constantly observed is to avoid the risk of destroying the immense and permanent benefits which Hinduism has achieved in the too earnest attempt to eliminate its concomitant and pro­bably transitory evils.

THE AMERICAN M ARATHI MISSION.

By t h e R e v . W . O. B a l l a n t i n e , M. D.

AN idea of the progress of a work can be better gained by com­parison between times past and present than by mere statis­

tics. In this Mission there are now about two and a half times as many ehurch members as there were fifteen years ago ; twice aB many adults are able to read ; contributions have increased to some extent ; the number of day schools has doubled and the number of pupils more than doubled. These facts indicate the growth in quantity of work ; the quality cannot be shown by figures. English is now taught in all the larger stations. Two High Schools prepare pupils for College, and besides these a College is already estab­lished at Ahmednagar. The growth of the Ahmednagar High School in the last five years— from 14 pupils to 311— has been truly remarkable when we consider that most of the pupils are from high caste Hindu families and that the study of the Bible is made as much of as any subject of the curriculum. This school is ex­pected in the near future to become entirely self-supporting : the Home Board has been called upon to give only 18 per cent of the current expen'se and only 24 per cent of the cost of new buildings and apparatus. The Industrial School at Sirur is also in fine work­ing condition and Government has recently expressed its hearty approval of it by a grant of Rs. 6,000.

One cause for regret is that although our Mission has been one of the foremost in India in pushing this matter, there is as yet no real self-support in the churches—in the proper acceptation of this term. Men who are in mission service generally give a tithe of one-tenth, and in those churches where Mission helpers abound a good deal is raised towards the support of their pastors. Of late years there has been organized a church-union called the “ Aikya” which receives contributions from various sources and takes upon itself the respon­sibility of making up deficits in the sums given for pastors’ salaries. So that from the Mission directly no support for the pastors comes. It is thé purpose of the “ Aikya” to visit the churches and pastors, to give advice when needed, and to stimulate preachers and Bible readers to better work. There is great need of thoroughly capable young men to take charge of churches as they are formed, and our Theological Seminary at Ahmednagar will in time, doubtless, be able to furnish such graduates.

CMRISTIANIXT AND TEE NEGRO RACE. 45

Great advancement has been seen of late in the general intelligence of Christian women. Bi-annual examinations are now held for them at the different stations, for which they prepare a previously assigned lesson. In consequence there is among them a rapidly growing interest in Bible study.

Sunday schools are in a flourishing condition among us, more than eighty being regularly held ; some of them very large and full of in­terest.

Several Societies of “ Christian Endeavour’* have been formed and through them much valuable volunteer work has been accomplished.

Medical work is proving to be more and more a means of getting into the lives and hearts of people of all castes, and a beginning has been made in training native Christians in medical work, which they can carry on with preaching in villages far removed from any large centre.

During tours great use has been made of the small portable organs and of the sciopticon, both of which attract large and attentive audiences.

In this hurried sketch we have omitted much that is of great interest and importance. The door of entrance to the higher castcs seems to be opening wider each year. Even in country places, where old-time custom still holds strong sway, they are coming to our schools ; and everywhere the Gospel story is listened to with more fairness and toleration and seeming interest than at any former time.

CHRISTIANITY AND THE NEGRO RACE.

B y th e R e v . G e o r g e W . S a w d a y .

IN a chapter on “ Christian Missions in West Africa,” Dr. Blyden disclaims all intention of propounding or discussing any new

theory of African Missions, and proceeds simply to look at some of the results already attained, and the hindrances in the way of more satisfactory achievements. It is about four hundred years since an attempt was first made to introduce Christianity into the Western part of Africa. The Roman Catholics were the pioneers in this work. The King of Portugal in 1481 sent out ten ships with soldiers, labourers and priests to Elmina. The Roman Catholic Missions did not accomplish much, but they lingered on until 1723, when they were practically abandoned. Protestant missionary oper­ations were commenced in 1786 by the Moravians. The Wesleyan Society began work in 1792, Sierra Leone being the part occupied, and in the Minutes for 1796 the names of A. Murdock and W . Patten are mentioned, as being set apart for mission work in the Foulah country. The Church Missionary Society sent out its first men in 1804, They attempted to maintain, ten stations, but owing

7

CHRISTIANITY AND TEE NEGRO RACE.

to the hostility of the natives they were forced to take refuge in Sierra Leone. The Basle Missionary ' Society turned to Western Africa in 1826, and in 1828 their men reached Christianborg, near Akra, the place which the Moravians had attemped to occupy thirty years before. The United Presbyterian synod of Scotland commenced their Mission on the old Calabar River in April 1846. The first American Mission was established on the coast in 1822, and now American Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Lutherans are represented in Liberia* Lagos, the island of Corisco and Gaboon.

Dr. Blyden proceeds to estimate the outcome of these missionary Operations, and it must be remembered throughout this article that we give prominence to his views rather than to our own. He says that the results are highly important and interesting. At the European settlements established on the coast from Senegal to Loanda, and also at the purely native stations occupied by the Niger missionaries, thousands of natives have professed Christianity, numerous churches have been organised under the care of native pastors, and thousands of children have been gathered into Christian schools. Nor is this all. Many able government officials, skilful mechanics, and merchants who in wealth and intelligence are on an equality with the European merchants on the coast, have also been raised up. But these results, Dr. Blyden says, are confined almost exclusively to the settlements along the coast, and he contends that no mission Station of any importance has been established among any of the powerful tribes in the interior. The work done in Sierra Leone and Liberia is not done amongst the indigenous elements of those localities, and he says that their native populations are still untouch­ed by evangelical influence, that those who have made progress in Christian civilisation are importations from other parts of Africa or from America. Our own impfession is that Dr. Blyden’s view is a very one-sided one, and that any West African missionary could at once show its unfairness ; but assuming for the present that it Is correct, it will be evident that the West African Missions have not been so successful as their most ardent supporters could wish them to be.

This is Dr. Blyden’s view, and he therefore turns to the question, “ Why is the evangelisation of the tribes of West Africa, after so many years of effort and so great a sacrifice of life and money, so backward ?” It will be seen that his ideas resemble those of Mr. Bosworth Smith, which we mentioned in a former article. H e says :—

1. The generally admitted cause is the unhealthiness of the climate, which carries off missionaries and their converts so rapidly, and affects all progress far more than is generally supposed. A belt of malarious lands extends along the whole of the West Coast of Africa, running from 40 to 50 miles inland, and in this neither cattle nor horses thrive, whilst in the elevated regions of the

CKRISTIANITY AND TEE NEGRO RACE. 47interior they flourish in countless herds, and men are healthy, vigorous and intelligent. Not only does the malaria affect the inhabitants but the interior tribes who migrate to the coast degenerate or perish. Some people think this degeneration is owing to intercourse with Europeans, but the same decay is observable among the Muhammadan creoles. The Rev. S. W . Koelle, an experienced German Missionary, notices this, and in the preface to his Bornou grammar says : “ The natives of dry and arid countries, as e. g. Bornou, Hausa, the Sahara, &c., die very fast in Sierra Leone ; their acclimatisation there seems to be almost as difficult as that of Europeans.” Under these circumstances,, unless missionary committees are prepared for an indefinite time to repeat the sacrifices they have already made, Dr. Blyden thinks it would be wise to try operations in the healthy regions of tho interior.

2. Another drawback, according to our author, to the success of mission work in West Africa, is .the inadequate, not to say contemp­tuous view often entertained by European missionaries of the material with which they have to deal. We confess that we are scarcely able to credit all that Dr. Blyden says on this head. That many Euro­peans look most contemptuously upon all dark skins we readily believe, but we do not believe that one missionary in a hundred regards in this way the people for whose sake he has left his home, country and friends. Dr. Blyden has evidently been soured by one or two injudicious remarks that missionaries have made. One of them he quotes. In an address before the American Colonization Society, Dr. Nassau said

‘ ‘ The Chinaman meets you with the stolid morality of his Con­fucianism, the Hindu with astute logic for his Pantheism. The- missionary among those peoples is assaulting strongholds bristling with guns and bayonets. When I carry my torch iuto the caves of: Africa, I meet only filthy birds of darkness, bats, owls and evil things of night, that, bewildered by the light, know not how to blunder o u t ; or out, blunderingly dash themselves in again.”

We can understand our author’s feeling of resentment at sucli an exaggerated statement, but at the same time can assure him that such feelings are not oommon amongst missionaries. Most of them feel as the Rev. J. Leighton Wilson did who, having laboured for twenty years in West Africa, wrote as follows :—

“ Looking at t ie African race as we have done, in their native country, we have seen no obstacles to their elevation which would not apply equally to all other uncultivated races of men. We do not expect Africans, under any circumstances, to possess the energy, the enterprise, or the inventive powers of the white man. But there are other traits, quite as commendable as these, in which, if properly trained, he will greatly excel his white compeer. Naturally the African is social, generous, confiding, and when brought under the benign influence of Christianity he exemplifies the beauty and consistency of his religion more than any other human being on, the face of the earth. And the time may come when they may be held

up to all the rest of the 'world as examples of the purest and most, elevated Christian virtue.”

In defence of his heathen fellow-countrymen Dr. Blyden says that there is not a single practice now indulged in by them to which a parallel cannot be found in the past history of Europfe, even after the people had been brought under the influence of nominal Christ­ianity. According to Mr. Lecky and Dr. Maclear polygamy was nowhere more deeply rooted than in Prussia, where also the Hindu custom of Sati was prevalent; slavery was not abolished by an order of the Council in London until 1102 \ human sacrifices were offered by the old Teutons, Swedes, Danes, Goths, and Saxons ; so that it does not follow that similar practices among the Africans are owing to some essential inferiority or inherent disposition to wanton cruelty. Dr. Blyden also protests against the erroneous impres­sions that are abroad about the Muhammadans, and we quite agree with him that this great subject ought to be approached with earnestness, for only by those possessed of an intelligent knowledge of their system is much good likely to be accomplished amongst the adherents of Islam.

3. A genuinely earnest protest is entered against the persistent effort to Europeanise the people, altogether without reference to their race, peculiarities, or the climatic conditions of the country* W e are told that “ the thin varnish of European civilisation which the native thus receives is mistaken for a genuine mental metamor­phosis and that (oftentimes) his Christianity, instead of being pure is superstitious, instead of being genuine is only nominal, instead of being deep is utterly superficial, and not having fairly taken root, it cannot flourish and become reproductive.” Something was said on this subject in the March number of this Magazine, but the words of the Rev, James Johnson, a native pastor of Sierra Leone, may well be quoted. He says :—

“ In the work of elevating Africans, no account has been made o f our peculiarities—our languages, enriched with the traditions of centuries; our parables, many of them the quintessence of family and national histories ; our modes of thought, influenced more or less by local circumstances; our poetry and manufactures, which though rude have their own tale to te ll; our social habits and even the necessities of our climate. It has been forgotten that European, ideas, tastes, languages and social habits, like those of other nations,, have been influenced more or less by geographical positions and climatic peculiarities ; that what is esteemed by one country polite* may be justly esteemed by another rude and barbarous; and that. God does not intend to have the races, confounded, but that the Negro or African should be raised upon his own idiosyncrasies* The result has been that we, as a people, think more of everything- that is foreign, and less of that which is purely native; have lost our self-respect and our love for our own race, are become a sort o f nondescript people, and are, in many things, inferior to our brethren in the interior countries. There is evidently a fetter mpon our minds even when the body is free; mental w-eakness even when,

48 CHRISTIANITY AND THE NEGRO RACE.

there is physical strength, and barrenness even where there appears fertility.”

If any of our brethren on the West Coast of Africa think that it is needful to give the Xegro a foreign model to copy, we trust that they "vyill pay some heed to Mr. Johnson's eloquent protest.

4. A fourth drawback to the success of Christian Missions (and whatever our opinion of the other three, we shall probably all agree with Dr. Blyden in the truth of this) is alleged to be the pernicious example of European traders and other non-missionary residents. Their profligacy, plunder, and cruelty are proverbial, and their un­godly lives combined with the accursed system of giving strong spirits as presents to their chiefs, lead one sometimes to despair of making much impression on native races where such people and such practices are found.

There are many articles in Dr. Blyden’s book besides those wo have noticed. He is an independent thinker. With many of his views we most emphatically disagree, but his book will un­doubtedly be a valuable addition to the libraries of all interested in the African question. He is enthusiastic, and rightly so, as to the future of his land and people, and in quoting one of his dreams we take leave of him :—

“ In visions of the future, I behold those beautiful hills—the banks of those charming streams, the verdant plains and flowery fields, the salubrious highlands in primeval innocence and glory, and those fertile districts watered everywhere as the garden of the Lord ; I see them all taken possession of by the returning exiles from the West, trained for the work of rebuilding waste places under severe discipline and hard bondage. I see too their brethren hastening to welcome them from the slopes of the Niger, and from its lovely valleys—from many a sequestered nook, and from many a palmy plain—Muhammadans and Pagans, chiefs and people, all coming to catch something of the inspiration the exiles have brought— to share in the borrowed jewels they have imported, and to march back hand-in-hand with their returned brethren towards the sunrise for the regeneration of a continent. And under their united labours, I see the land rapidly reclaimed — raised from the slumber of ages, and rescued from a stagnant barbarism ; and then, to the astonishment of the whole world, in a higher sense than has yet been witnessed, ‘ Ethiopia shall suddenly stretch out her hands unto God.’ ”

May the vision soon be realised.

NOTES AND EXTRACTS. 49

NOTES AND EXTRACTS.

I nteresting S t a t is t ic s .—We have quoted elsewhere the interesting and important speech by Sir Charles Aitchison, in which he says that the increase of Christians is five per cent in advance of the increase in the populations of India. By the

50 KOTES AND EXTRACTS.

courtesy o f Sir Charles we are able to publish the process by which he arrived at these results. His calculations are based on the Census Report of 1881, on the Report o f 1881 fo r British India, and on some of the Provincial census Reports. The rate of increase of the ordinary population may be thus stated :

Province. Percentage of increase since previous census. Annual Rate of Increase.

Madras. Decrease 1 -35 in 10 yrs . . — • 135.Bengal. -f- 10*89 in 9 yrs. + 1*21.N . W . Provinces.. . + 6-05 in 9 yrs. + 0-67.Punjaub. -j- 7*05 in 13 yrs. . . + 0-54.

The above should be compared with the following r—

Provinces.Clmstianpopu- lation at former

census.

Christian population

in 1881.Increase

Percentage of increase on pre­

vious census.Annual rate of increase-.

Madras . . (1)

Bengal (2(3)

N .W .Provinces.

545,390 . . ( 91,603 . .

52,603 . . ( 39,000 . .

7,648 . .

7 11 .072 ..128,125 . . 86,3f 6 . .4 1 .8 1 9 .,

1 1 .823 ..

165,68236,52233,703

2,819

4,175

+ 30-39 in 10 yrs. 40-64 in 9 yrs. 64*07 in 9 yrs.

-+- 7-22 in 9 yrs.

- f 54-00 in 9yrs.

+ 3 03 4-4-51 ¡(1) + 7.12 (2) + 0-80) (3)

+ 6-00

(1) Total Christian population. (2) Native Christiana only.(3) All other Christians.

In the Punjaub in 1868 there were 18 Christians to every 10,000 of the total population ; while in 1881 there were 18 to every 10,000, being an increase of 38-5 per cent in 13 years, or an annual increase of 2'9G per cent. These results may now be put together :—

Province.Annual rate of increase or

decrease of ordinary popula­tion since previous census.

Annual rate of increase or decrease of Christians since pre­

vious census.

Madras. — 0135 + 3-03( + 4-o‘i (All Christians

Bengal. + 1-21 < - f 7-12 (Native Christians.) ( + 0-80 (Other Christians.)

N .W . Provinces 4 0 (57 + 6-OQPunjaub. . . + 0-54 - f 2-96

These figures are conclusive as to the aggressive vitality of Christianity in these Provinces, and may well close the mouths of those who are for ever affirming that Christianity has not yet justified its presence in India. There is no doubt but that

NOTES AND EXTRACTS. 51

at similar investigation of the statistics of other Provinces “would exhibit equally startling results. It is quite certain that no other part of the world can shew a similar rate of increase in the number of native Christians»

T h e R u kh m a b a i C a se .— The past month has seen the end of the Rukhmabai case. The lady defendant has agreed to pay Rs. 2,000 to the plaintiff, her husband according to Hindu law, in satisfaction of all costs. On his part Dadaji under­takes not to assert in future any claim against Rukhmabai’3 person or her present or future estate. It is not improbable that the decision is a counsel of prudence. Had Dadaji’s friends pressed matters much further, the case must ultimately have gone to the Privy Council. That would almost certainly have been to ensure the reversal of the decree against Rukhmabai, and what is more would inevitably have led to the repeal of the law in its present form. To the supporters of the present system this would have been inconvenient, and henco their suggested compromise. The law still sides with the husband, and Rukhmabai’s complete victory, legal as well as moral, has at the last moment been prevented. W e cannot pretend to be satisfied. The final battle is only postponed, and will have yet to be fought out.

M issio nar ies v isit in g th e H il l s .-—Our note last month on this subject has called forth much comment. It is evident that we touched a real fault ; but the evil is by no means so com­mon as certain extreme and irresponsible newspaper corres­pondents suggest. To missionaries engaged in school work the school holidays fix the time when, if ever, they must have a change. Nor are the days which they spend on the Hills wholly given to rest. W e know that many men devote their time there most assiduously to such literary work for the Mission as the constant pressure of duties on the plains renders impossible. The most reasonable view of the question has been taken by the Madras Mail which, while urging missionaries “ to resent the temptation to follow the reprehensible example” of high Government officials, adds : “ A ll work makes the Reverend as well as the lay Jack a dull boy, and dulness in a parson is deadly ; so no one who takes occasional holidays him­self for the recovery of mental and physical tone would care to grudge clergymen rest on the Hills, amid surroundings and in a climate congenial to exotics.” There is one point, however, indicated by the Madras Mail which calls for attention and explanation. It says :—

“ It has been pointed out that our contemporary has overlooked an important point in connection with the question, namely, the appli­cation of large sums of money definitely subscribed for evangelisa­tion, towards the purchase of houses for the use of missionaries at

62 NOTES AND EXTRACTS.

TTill stations, which remain empty for the greater part of the year. These houses need occasional expenditure for repairs, and should they be sold, they would probably be found to have depreciated in value like other house property at those stations.”

Now there are three classes of mission houses on the Hill stations. There are those, and they are not few in number, for the purchase of which no mission money whatever has been used : they are the gifts of people in England who believe it to be a distinct economy for mission work and mission funds that men should have a short occasional change on the Indian Hills, instead of having to take more frequent furlough to England. Then there are other houses which, though not given outright, have been sold for a merely nominal sum. W e have informa­tion of a bungalow, for instance, which does not cost its Mission Rs. 100 yearly, even when you include not only its upkeep, but 5 per cent, interest on the original price besides. And this bungalow will suffice— does suffice— for six or seven persons. Divide the Rs. 100 among them and you get no hint of extra- gavance. There are other Hill bungalows, again, which wero purchased, not for holiday use, but with the intention of making permanent mission stations there. But the policy of Mission­ary Societies of late has been to reduce the European staff to a minimum, and in many cases the Hill stations have had to be banded over to the sole care of a native minister. The houses remain, however : in some instances they are let, and are a posi­tive source of revenue to the Mission ; in some others they are undoubtedly a serious loss, and the straightest course would be either to rent them permanently to Hill residents or to get rid of them. But this latter policy does not always commend itself to those who are in charge of affairs at Home. Not very long ago a body of missionaries labouring in one of the hottest parts of South India proposed to economise for their Mission by selling outright the houses which they owned on Hill stations, and to take their chance of securing lodgings when health demanded that they should have a change. But the sugges­tion was promptly and even peremptorily dismissed by the Home Directors as being a false piece of economy. W e do not pretend to agree with the view of these Directors, but it is evident that when a state of things is to any extent objection­able, the blame of its continuance cannot always be laid on the missionaries. Having said this much, we need only re-affirm our position of last month. No man has any right to let him­self run down and become physically inefficient, if he can obviate it by a timely holiday. But where men are in fairly good health it behoves them to consider, not only their own convenience and pleasure but also the exigencies of the work. These are the two axioms of this question, and if they are properly considered they will completely save missionaries from unduly imitating the “ reprehensible example” of Government

officers, and will save newspaper correspondents from some very foolish writing.[Since the above note was written an interesting letter has appeared in the

Madras M ail, signed ‘ Aquila,’ from which we extract the following : “ Some years ago I made a careful comparison of the average length of service in India of two American Missions, one of which had a sani­tarium, and the other had not. In the former the rule was for every missionary to go to the Hills every seoond year ; in the latter the mis­sionaries went only when compelled by ill-health to go to the Hills or go Home. The result was that, in the former case, the average first term of service was over 16 years, and in the latter less than six years.” ]

NOTES AND EXTRACTS. 53

T h e L iquor T raffic in B e n g a l .— W e have received the Re­port of an important meeting recently held at Darjeeling to consider the alarming increase of the liquor traffic among the natives. One of the speakers, the liev. A. Turnbull prepared himself for the meeting by appealing to the tea-planters of Darjeeling and neighbourhood, asking them what was their experience in regard to the spread of liquor drinking among the coolies during the last few years. Out of one-hundred-and- forty-four tea-planters one-hundred-and-forty-one signed a state­ment to the effect that “ the Excise shops established by Government in every bazar, public and private, and along every public road in the District, constitute a great public evil, involving grave injustice and injury to the local tea industry, and to the material and moral interests of the tens of thousands of tea coolies.” Probably on no other subject would there have been found among this large body of planters anything like the same unanimity of feeling. Many of them sent letters emphasising their sense of the evil done by the present Gov­ernment system. As illustrating the working of this Excise system we present to our readers a copy of a correspondence between the Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling, and the General Manager of one of the largest tea companies in that District. It is sadly instructive.

From the Deputy Commissioner. To----------Sir, It has been brought to my notice that you have refused land for the

establishment of two Excise Shops at bazar. The two shops fetched atauction Rs. 65 a month, a figure which is in itself a pretty clear indication that your garden coolies will have liquor. If there are no shops within reach they will brew it themselves, and thus bring on themselves frequent visits from the Police and Excise officers, which you would probably wish to avoid. You were probably unaware when you refused to give these men land, that it is within the power of Government to take up land in your bazar under the Act, for the purpose of establishing a distillery and shop. I am unwilling however to adopt this course except as a last resource...............

From -----------------To the Deputy Commissioner,Sir, My reason for objecting to liquor sellers selling at m y bazar was thatfor sometime past there had been several serious rows, not only amongst my own coolies, but also with those coming from the surrounding gardens. The people were warned time after time, and it was only when I found that they did notlisten that I closed the liquor shops. I was not a ware that Government couldcompel me to keep liquor sellers on my Estate and by so doing be the cause of

8

54 NOTES AND EXTRACTS.

disturbances amongst the coolies. I should have thought that on the contrary Government would have helped me to keep the peace. Should you adopt the course you refer to I shall he reluctantly compelled to close the bazar and to deprive my people, as well as those of the surrounding plantations, of the advantage of getting grain, etc., close at hand. I know that hillmen are partial' to liquor. I f they want it they can buy it and drink it in their own houses, where they are not so likely to exceed, being alone, or to become quarrelsome. If they manufacture liquor, knowing well at the time that they are doing wrong, let them take the consequences. A few examples made will soon cure them.

From the Deputy Commissioner. T o ---------------Sir, I have the honour to quote in the margin a clause of the retail license

bearing on the prevention of disorderly conduct. I should have been only too glad to have received information of any breach of this last year, and to have taken serious notice of it, and to have otherwise helped you to keep the peace.

2. The closing of the bazar will not prevent the acquiring of land for a dis­tillery. The shops are sanctioned by the Board [of Revenue] to meet the wants, not of the bazar shop-keepers, but of the coolies round about, and I consider it essential that there should he Excise shops in the valley i>/ the interests o f the Revenue.

3. I ¿hall be glad, if you give land, to let the men understand that any dis­orderly conduct will be seriously dealt with, and that they must look to you as their landlord, and comply with your wishes as far as is consistent with the license and payment of revenue.......................

F r o m To the Deputy Commissioner.Sir............... I prefer having no liquor shops on these Estates, and would be

thankful if you would not press the matter.From the Deputy Commissioner. T o ----------

Sir, I have the honour again to quote in the margin [ J the clause of theretail license about the prevention of disorderly conduct. I am obliged in the interests of Government to press the matter, as it would be impracticable to make any exception to the general rule. If I am compelled by your action to take up land, the proceedings will be had under Act X of 1870, and I must move under that if I do not get a favourable answer from you by the 21st.

A t this stage the General Manager sent round a paper to those of his neighbours whose coolies attended the bazar inquestion, asking, ‘ Is it advisable to have liquor shops at ?Out of thirteen replies twelve were strongly negative, where­upon the General Manager wrote again :

F rom .------------- - To The Deputy Commissionei'.Sir, I regret I cannot willingly agree to the establishment of shops at my

bazar on account of the heavy gambling, disgusting drunkenness, and constant rows. Drunkenness amongst coolies engenders disease and insubordination, andgambling leads to all sorts of crime........................... You may consider that I wasto blame for not having divulged the state of things before, but surely the officer who graiits the licenses ought to see that they are given to people who can be trusted and are law-abiding.

The bazar is far from European superintendence ; but even otherwise, Ido not believe matters would have been much better.

Since receiving your letter I have put the following question to all my neigh­bours whose coolies are in the habit of going to my bazar, “ Is it advisable to have liquor shops at ?’ ’

[Narrates result as above shewn.] When all the Europeans interested are against the establishment of Excise shops in a certain place, and give good reasons f o r objecting to them, it would be hard if 3rou were still to insist upon having them, on the sole plea of swelling the Government revenue.

From The Deputy Commissioner. To----------Sir, I have given your letter my careful consideration, and can see no reason

to withdraw from the position I have taken up.2. In attributing my action to “ the sole plea of swelling Government reve­

CHRONICLE OF THE STATIONS. 55nue,” you seem to forget that it is my duty to prevent breaches of the Exoise Law, and that this Law imposes responsibilities on land-owners in this direc­tion also.

3. I am aware that the number of liquor shops in the district was decreased a little time ago, in deference to the representations made by certain planters. The whole subject was then considered bjT Government, and the shops to be licensed year by year are fixed by the Board of Revenue, in accordanoe with the Government orders. The present number is considered the lowest that can be maintained, witli due regard to the protection of the revenue and the enforce­ment of the Law.

Thus Revenue must increase whatever happens to the people. The testimony to the increase of drunkenness among the natives in all parts of India is rapidly accumulating, and the most vigorous and practical support ought to be given to the Committee formed in London for the “ Prevention of the Demoralization of Native Races by the Liquor Traffic.”

CHRONICLE OF THE STATIONS.

Colombo.—A missionary conference was.about to be held one Mon­day evening in the house of the Hev. J Scott, Chairman of the Colombo District, and some of the guests had already assembled, when a telegram was received from London announcing the death of Mrs. Scott. The news came with startling suddenness, and the conference, after prayer for the bereaved husband and family, at once broke up. Mrs. Scott had been out of health for some time, but only left Ceylon in the beginning of April. The change, it was hoped, would strengthen her, and during part of the voyage she seemed better. On nearing England, however, there was a collapse, though even then no serious alarm was felt. The mother had been at homa with her children for just one month when the end came. Mrs. Scott was a daughter of the Eev. K. Spence Hardy, and had thus an almost hereditary interest in Ceylon Missions. During a long residence she made her influence widely felt among the Sinhalese in many ways, and particularly by means of her Colpetty Boarding School, and in. Christian Literature. She will be long missed and affectionately remembered. We offer to Mr, Scott the reverent sym­pathy of his brethren in India in this crushing sorrow.

Re v iv a l in Calcutta an d N eighbourhood .— After speaking in a private letter of great blessing at Darjeeling and Dum Dum, where many soldiers, a Mussulman, anil a Hindu came out on the Lord’s side, one of the missionaries there says, “ At Barrackpore commenced some glorious services. Brother Spencer has been working there with great success among the soldiers. I was there to the reaping. It was hot work preaching, but praise G od ! the men came out for Christ, and so did some civilians. Each night we had the joy un­speakable of pointing them to Christ. The work did not stop at Barrackpore. It extended to the Powder Factory at Ishapore, and we had good times there the next week, in addition to a memorable testimony meeting at Uarrackpore when for two liuurs man after man rose to cry ‘ Oh happy day.’ Only 3 minutes each, and then not allhad spoken who would have liked. ...............The last week at SudderStreet, has been a time of unparalleled blessing. The Church has

been mightily revived and this part of Calcutta has been shaken by the power of God. We have had many cases of decision, to say nothing of sleepers awakened. Such times of blessing! A full shower ! And still the work goes on. Join with me in praising and extolling the name of Jesus. Hallelujah.”

T h e L ucknow a n d B e nares D istrict .—This District has been making rapid strides :of late in the direction of securing plant. A fine new Church will be opened in a few weeks at Fyzabad, and a bungalow is also being built. At Lucknow considerable improve­ments and additions have been made in connection with the Theo­logical Institution, and now a Church is being built for the Hin­dustani congregation which will cost between Rs. 8,000 and 9,000. It is expected also that a Soldiers’ Home will before long be started in Lucknow.

56 CHRONICLE OF THE STATIONS.

Coonoor. —Revival.— Christian fellowship.—For several weeks past the Lord has been graciously reviving His work at this station. Early in the year, only 7 or 8 of the Soldiers at Wellington who attended our services were reckoned as decided Christians. Now with the addi­tion of a few from the plains who have joined the Depot we have 36—25 being new converts. The visit of Col. McCausland to this station coutributed much to this blessed result.

In return for the kind interest shown, in their spiritual welfare the Christian soldiers invited the Coonoor Church members and friends to a social tea at the school-room on Friday, July 6th, to which about 40 persons responded. After tea, the evening was spent in hallowed and delightful fellowship. Hymns were sung, prayers offered, and addresses delivered, by ministers and leading friends, the soldiers taking part therein, and the presence of the Master was blessedly realised.

On the afternoon of Thursday, July 12th, the Christian soldiers were invited by Mrs. Hayne, with other friends, to tea at the Lodge, Coonoor. About *70 persons were present. Mr. Stanes photographed the whole party in groups on the lawn. The evening was spent in praise to God, fervent applications for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and pleasant social intercourse, all hearts being “ knit together in love.”

An early morning prayer meeting has for some time been held here daily, and we trust the good work will go on and increase mightily.

B angalore ( EnglishJ—On Tuesday, July 3rd, a united Circuit Meeting was held to bid Rev. and Mrs. A. Burnet farewell on their departure to England for a period of six months. The Tamil chapel was kindly lent for the occasion, and was arranged with skill as a large drawing room. Festoons were hung around the room, and appropriate mottoes upon the walls. After tea, Rev. J. Hudson, B. A., tookthe chair and conducted the meeting. Col. W. N. Wroughton, Sergeant Winton, and Mr. C. Cress spoke of mingled regret and hope in connexion with the impending short absence from Bangalore of the voyagers. Some tokens of esteem and thanks were presented, and with the strains of a special hymn entitled, <c God be with you till we meet again,” sung by 30 or 40 hearty and trained voices still ringing in their ears the united company separated to pray alike for those who go and those who come.

CHRONICLE OF THE STATIONS. 57

BAXGJlLORE ( Kanarete) . —The annual prize distribution in connec­tion with the High School took place on July 6, Sir Harry Prender- gast presiding. The report, read by the Rev. J. A. Vanes, u. a. , shewed striking progress. The average number on the rolls for the past twelve months has been 623 as against 561 the previous year; and the average attendance has been 519 as against 472 before. The matriculation class has been very large, reaching as high as 76. The passes from this School at the University Examinations were about 9 per cent higher than the average of Bangalore Schools. The most conscientious attention has been given throughout the whole School to the teaching o f the Scriptures, such teaching including not only careful exposition, but the most' direct application of the truth to the hearts and lives of the students.

Tumktjr.— Quarterly Meeting.—This meeting was recently held, and the review of the quarter’s work was fairly satisfactory. The contri­butions to the various funds were above the average. There had been three deaths during the quarter—one adult and two children. Two local preachers on trial were examined ; but it was deemed advisable to continue their probation for some time longer. Evangelistic services had been held at most of the jatres, and in every direction the Word had been preached. Arrangements were made for holding special services in the surrounding villages. We were not able to have the evangelists from the out-stations at our meeting, as tbe state of the funds allowed for travelling would not permit it.

Temperance Meeting.—We had a gathering of the Christians recent­ly to impress upon them the claims of this work. The Rev. H. Haigh occupied the chair, and addresses were given by several evangelists and a local preacher. As this was the last public service at which Mr. Haigh would be present before his removal to Bangalore, refer­ence was made by one or two speakers to the great help he had ren­dered to the Tumkur Church, by his pulpit and other ministrations, and great regret was expressed at his departure.

L tjcknow.—The Rev. J. Parson sends us the following in reference to the Police case which we notieed so fully in our pages last month :—“ The defendants Lalta Pershad and Mathura Pershad appealed on sixteen grounds, most of them very trivial. The case was heard by Col. Newberry and the appellants had engaged a Barrister and two pleaders. I appeared for the Mission. The result of the appeal was that the conviction was upheld, but the sentence was changed in the case of Mathura Pershad from one month’s im­prisonment with hard labour to a fine of Rs. 70. Lalta Pershad’s punishment remains the same—a fine of Rs. 50. The Judge told them plainly that he reduced the sentence of the first appellant because this was the first time either of them had been summoned for this kind of thing, at the same time he intimated that if ever they offended again they would not be dealt with so leniently. The two men said they would appeal to the Judicial Commissioner, but no appeal lies on the facts established by two Judges. An appeal might be made on any law point, but there is no such point involved in this case.

This conviction will do great service in keeping the members of such fast-growing new Societies as the Arya 8amaj and the Cow Protection Society from interfering with Christian preaching. They

58 OTHER INDIAN MISSIONS.

are opposed to Government and consequently to everything Christian. The Arya Samaj especially has given us much trouble in this part of India. In Melas its members frequently render our preaching an impossibility.

OTHER IN D IAN MISSIONS.

T h e B o w en M em okial.— It has now at last been fully decided that a Hall shall be built to the memory of the late Eev. George Bowen, and the amount to be raised for it is Es. 50,000.

PalAMCOTffAH.—At the recent prize-giving of the C. M. S. High School, Palamcottah, Mr. Key worth reported that of 120 pupils 90 per cent were native Christians. In connection with the “ Peter Cator” Scripture Examinations, the students in this school carried off 40 per cent of the whole prizes both in number and value. These figures are as remarkable as they are interesting.

D r. M urdoch .—Few men have spent themselves for India more willingly or more lavishly than Dr. Murdoch. He has travelled the whole country through incessantly, and yet has found time to do an amazing amount of literary work. Tins month he enters on his seventieth year, and intends next year, if spared, to go Home to look for a successor. At present with unfaltering vigour, he is, as he says, “ setting his house in order and endeavouring to gather up the fragments.” This is no light work, and will we are sure involve the blessing of multitudes before it is completed,

B asel E vangelical M ission .—We always look forward with great interest to the arrival of the Eeport of this Society. The one now before us is a good working Eeport. There is no rhetoric, no attempt to balance paucity of work or of results by exuberance of language. There is throughout a very simple record of daily missionary life. Whom the workers have met with, what has been said, how the churches have proved sometimes very discouraging but generally progressive—all this is told as quietly and naturally as in the Acts of the Apostles. The arrangement of the Eeport might be improved, and an Introduction containing a summary narrative of the year’ s work would be a valuable addition. The German brethren have had fair harvesting during the year, having baptized 244 adults from heathenism, and having received 245 new communicants. The adherents of the Basel Mission now number nearly 10,000. The staff of foreign missionaries is a large one, 82 in all, of whom 19 are now on furlough. The brethren are very faithful to t-heir work, 31 of them having been on the field more than ten years, and not a few having grown old in the service. All methods of work are pursued, but special prominence is given to the evangelistic. A beginning has been made in M edical Mission work at Calicut, and Dr. Liebendorfer has treated 4,012 patients, and held 12,450 consultations during his first year. We cannot quote largely, but we present our readers with the description given of a devotee at Cannanore : —

“ About 20 yegrs ago a Sanyasi arrived iu Cannanore. He put up first at the chatram which he had to quit after three «lays, and then ¡retired under a tree.

As he pretended to be dumb he was taken to hospital, where the doctor applied electricity to make him speak, but all in vain. . Ho \v;is theu dismissed thence and stationed himself as a pious beggar near the shop of a Mapla. The latter was an enterprising man, who offered the Sanyasi a place in his shop. When the Hindu devotees saw that the Mapla profited by their generosity to the man, they prevailed on the Sanyasi to remove to a little temple, to which he consented. There in a dark room he sits akimbo, stark naked, hair and beard clean shaved, liis head hanging down on his chest, occasionally smoking hemp, of which he is passionately fond. He is generally silent and only occasionally mutters a few words. He eats as other mortals, but sleeps with crossed legs. The phantasy of his admirers has endowed the man -Hath supernatural powers, some even pretend that he is the incarnation of some deity. The gift of doing wonders is ascribed to him; food blessed by him procures offspring. His curse also is said to be most powerful. His admirers provide him with the necessities of life and in return receive the ashes of the tire which bums in front of him aud which he uses to kindle his hooka. These ashes, diluted in water and drunk or applied to the forehead, cure, they say, all kinds of sickness. They give out that lie is 200 years of age and that he will never die!”

OTHER INDIAN MISSIONS. 59

A T h r i l l in g S to r y o f B aptism .— The Eeport just quoted con­tains a thrilling story of the baptism of old Konga of Kaity on the Nilgiris. He is now 55 years old, and belongs to the Badaga tribe. Forty years ago he attended a mission school, and afterwards became a schoolmaster. He holped Mr. Moerike to translate St. Luke’ s Gospel into Badaga, and it was lithographed from his handwriting. He read the Bible very diligently and taught it very zealously, but he persistently declined for nearly 40 years to become a Christian. His two sons received the Gospel in consequence of the teaching of their father, and last December amid the most violent opposition received baptism. They were both married men, and one of the wives actually got poison into her hands intending to destroy herself; but Konga interposed. The people of their village warned the men that if, having received Christian baptism, they ventured to return, they would beat them within an inch of their lives. At this juncture Konga announced that he would receive them into his own house and answer for their safety. A month later, he sought a secret interview with Mr. Lutze, opened his heart to him and asked for baptism for himself. A t once the date was fixed, whereupon Konga wrote Tamil letters to 19 Maniyakaras (headmen) announcing his in­tention and inviting them to convince him that his embracing the faith of Christ was a false step. He said he was willing to be convinced if they could do i t ; if not, he insisted on being left unmolested. The day of baptism arrived, a large congregation assembled—but Konga was wanting. Where could he be ? Just as he was starting for Kaity the whole village, men, women, children, and all his relations assembled and entreated him long and most earnestly not to disgrace them and himself by becoming a Christian. Some even fell down before him, embraced his feet, and wept aloud. This was his last hard struggle. When at last he reached Kaity he found a crowded congregation gathered in a room which in former times had been used by Lord Elphinstone as a ball-room. There were many Europeans as well as native Christians, and about 80 influential heathen men besides. At the close of the sermon Konga held an interesting public conversation with his heathen countrymen, then gave a most emphatic testimony, and finished by saying—“ He who is born but once dies twice; but lie who is born twice dies only once. According to God’s word I receive my second birth through the power of the H oly Ghost and the water of baptism. I f any of you

has a further objection let him state i t ; if not, confess that I am in the right.” He even called on some by name; but all assented to what he had said. H e then offered up a hearty prayer, and received baptism with his youngest son and a grandson. He looks forward anxiously to the speedy conversion of his other children.

go OTHER INDIAN MISSIONS.

T h e O xford M ission .—In a recent speech the Bishop of Calcutta described the constitution and work of the Oxford Mission. He said that though the Mission was started, supported, and maimed by Englishmen, he was firmly resolved that it should eventually become a distinctly Indian brotherhood. He would not consent that it should be perpetuated century after century as a foreign institution. For the present he thought the brotherhood should consist of a dozen men instead of three, but he hoped that in a very few years it would be­come self-sustaining. The Bishop further said that the Oxford brotherhood was entirely free to follow God’s leading in all its operations. He asked nothing from it but ordinary loyalty to himself as Bishop. For the rest, the Superior and those who were associated with him met in chapter and decided all ques­tions for themselves. They might come to him for advice or they might seek it from their friends in England, but eventually the responsibility rested with the brotherhood as it expressed its mind in chapter. The consequence of that was that the Mission had been left entirely free to take up any parti­cular work it pleased, though from the first it was evident that one of the main features of the work would be to come into close and immediate contact with the young men of Calcutta, especially with those who were receiving the high Western education given in the Government Schools. The effect of the work of the brotherhood was really so intangible that it was almost imposssible to describe it in words ; but the great thing was this, that all Calcutta was conscious of their presence. People of all ranks and degrees knew of the existence of the Oxford Mission, and that it was a power of a new kind established and working in the City. He was most anxious that people in England should understand that it was not merely converting the heathen which indicated sound mission work, but at the same time there must be the infusion of higher principles into those who were already Christians ; and the first effect of the presence of the Oxford Mission in Calcutta had been on the native clergy themselves, who had felt its influence and had acknowledged its power. They had grasped new ideas as to what Christianity is, and above all had imbibed new ideas as to what the true minister of God should be.

A m erican M a d u r a M ission .—The report of this Mission for 1887 goes far to confirm old opinions regarding the wisdom of concentra­tion in mission work and of variation in mission methods. Working amongst nearly two millions of people, there are 25 missionaries and 421 native agents ordained or unordained—working too with all the energy that results from hearty combination of forces. Their labours have been rewarded by a net gain of 177 in the year’s mem­bership and by other healthy marks of progress and development.

Peculiarly interesting are the methods employed. Of the 25 mis­sionaries named 15 are ladies—some employed in house to house visitation, some in hospital, and some in school work. From a Girls’

LITERATURE. 61

Normal School 18 have entered the ranks of Church membership. One lady records a year’s total of 8,129 cases medical and surgical in her dispensary work. American adaptation has provided a “ Sciopticon” wherewith to preach to duller minds and an “ Up and Ready” class for mutual questions at school regarding Scripture. By Binging the truth has entered some heathen houses and by picture cards others. And surely it is a hint worth taking when we read of a great simultaneous effort at Madura town at the time of the annual meeting when the city on one evening was “ dotted over in eight street audiences in which about 4,000 people listened to the gospel message from the lips of 50 workers.”

The aggressive spirit is grow ing: “ One woman who has only been under instruction since September has been much impressed with the thought that it is her duty to go from house to house like the Bible readers, teaching of the love of Jesus. Not long since she came early in the morning and entreated the Bible woman to g® -with her to a neighbouring village to preach, saying she wished to begin to tell what she had learned about Jesus.”

And here again : “ The Young Men’s Christian Association haa opened a Sunday School which has an attendance of nearly 100 Hindu youths. It has also a committee which devotes some time every week to organized street preaching and tract distribution.”

With such a spirit of zeal and enterprise and with a church roll of 3,233 we may reasonably believingly anticipate a large accession during the current year.

LITERATURE.

Th e E nglish a n d T a m il D ictio n aiiy .— Higginbotham and Co. Madras.— That such a work as is attempted in the volume before us is a great desideratum will be at once admitted by every one who -has had occasion to study the chief vernacular of Southern India. The title page informs us that the book is the third edition of a work originally compiled by the Revs. Knight, Spaulding and Hutchings. A careful perusal of its contents has, however, satisfied us that it contains so many improvements and so much new matter that no one who desires to be accurate will refuse to purchase it on the ground that he possesses one of the former editions. The compiler has made a distinct advance upon all previous efforts and we are persuaded that the book is bound to become a sine qua non to every English student of the Tamil language. If then we proceed to criticise the work somewhat freely it will be with a view to prevent misapprehen­sion on the part of beginners and to suggest possible improvements for a future edition.

Our ideal of an Anglo- Vernacular dictionary is a high one and as yet it has been only partially realised in any of the Dravidian langu­ages, We should like to have a dictionary that would be almost as complete in its English section as if it were devoted to that language alone. At least it should pay some attention to the relation of derived and dependent words and to peculiar or idiomatic uses. At the same time the vernacular should convey the exact import of each English word in the best idiom and with the least possible circumlocution. The detailed observance of these principles would involve immense

9

labour and the result would necessarily be voluminous. But the value of the work would be inestimable. We are pleased to think that some approach has been made towards the realisation of this ideal in the volume before us, and we sincerely congratulate the compiler on the general success with which he has accomplished his laborious task. The English vocabulary is quite as complete as need be for the purposes of translation. We should prefer indeed to omit several words and thus save valuable space for other matter. A. few are here instanced as being either foreign, obsolete or incorrect: —“ accipient, addorsed, babish, batoon, diffide, drollingly, disc&nvenimt, dis-commodious, gliff, glike, glout, incorpse, mysteriarch, minja, par- rakeet, persistive, qualifiedness, rutile, shardborne, slumbery, un- polite, unprepossessed, vare.”

The Tamil meanings are on the whole correct and useful equiva­lents ; though very occasionally the most common signification of the English word is lost sight of in an attempt to elucidate its literal or derivative meaning. For example, looking at the word “ Subscribe” and its derivatives we find that the particular meaning to contribute appears only as the last subordinate meaning under “ subscription” A “ subscriber” is “ one who places his signature,” “ who writes with his own hand,” “ who agrees to a document;” the other meaning is lost. We may also say in passing that it would enhance the value of these various Tamil renderings to those who have made but little progress in that language if they were either followed by a literal translation such as we have given, or at least carefully classified. It is in this matter of classification thatwethink the chief defect of the volume is to be found. And this is much to be regretted as it depiives the student of the aid which a dictionary ought to furnish in selecting the most appropriate words for his composition. We do not mean that the vernacular renderings are either incorrect or insufficient. On the contrary, a fairly successfid attempt has been made to grapple with the many significations of some English words, and the various shades of meaning are at last partially explained in both languages. Take for example the significations of the word “ conditioa,” which are first expressed in a general manner by a series of eleven Tamil words and then more particularly, the English meanings, (viz, “ quality,” “ rank,” “ terms given,” “ to take on condition,” “ ill condi­tion” arid “ condition o f the body” ) being enumerated in conjunction with their Tamil equivalents. But for the meaning “ terms given” no fewer than five Tamil synonyms are supplied, and there is nothing either in this or any other series of expressions to indicate the precise value of each word. Thus the English phrase “ terms given” may imply a requirement or standard, a rule, a cause or reason of an act, an agreement or promise ; and each of the Tamil words under that head properly conveys one of those ideas, but there is nothing to point out to the English student which of the five words is the one that he should use in the particular sentence which he may be constructing. Moreover there is no information as to whether the words are of classical or colloquial use, whether adapted for oratorical purposes or commonly used and under­stood by the masses. We believe it is this defect in Anglo- Vemacular dictionaries that largely accounts for the stilted and ungainly character of the composition of not a few intelligent and Otherwise well educated natives. It is impossible, however, for any­

62 LITERATURE.

one volume to contain everything, and the diligent study by the European scholar of Tamil, and by the Native scholar of English dictionaries, will be an invaluable complement to the careful use of the work before us. Thus supplemented, the English-Tamil diction­ary will ably fulfil its purpose.

As the dictionary is intended to be “ useful not only to Europeans learning Tamil but to native students learning English,” the English words are carefully accentuated with a view to correct pronunciation. It would have been further helpful to natives if a simple Key to the sounds of English vowels had been prefixed. The same remark applies mutatis mutandis to English scholars and the Tamil sounds.

A striking feature of the work is the presentation of every Tamil word in Roman characters as well as in its native dress. The system of transliteration is explained by a complete table of letters at the commencement, and the strict observance of the proper equivalents will be of the highest important to those who do not intend to master the characters of the vernacular. But we question whether it is altogether a gain to increase the bulk and cost of a work primarily intended for students by a large amount of matter adapted only to neophytes and of doubtful advantage even to them. There is the more ground for this remark as small dictionaries suitable for the use of those who need only a colloquial knowledge of the language can readily be obtained. We do not suppose however that the Romanised Tamil forms were intended to make the services of a munsM unnecessary. If any European learner thinks so he will probably go far astray. No system of translitrcation can be perfectly phonetic and this one is by no means an ex­ception to the rule. We have been surprised to observe that it differs in some of its forms from the system adopted in the grammars of Bishop Caldwell, Dr. Pope and Mr. J. Lazarus.The vowel “ g3” is represented by “ ai” instead of “ ei.” The dental ¿5 hag for its equivalent l , th,” and the effect of the aspirate is cei--tainly misleading, especially in cases where the letter is doubled. The lingual “ ijb” is a peculiar consonant and is generally represented in English by the letter “ r” dotted as in the case of the cerebrals. In the book before us it is denoted by “ zh,” but as there is nothing of either the sibilant or aspirate in its correct pronuncia­tion, it is to be feared that this representation will not make it less of a bête noir than formerly. Bishop Caldwell says of this letter, “ It is sometimes expressed in English books as “ zh” or “ rzh,” but this is merely a local pronunciation which is peculiar to the northern district of the Tamil country ; it is at variance with its affinities and its interchanges, and is likely to mislead the learner.”

On the subject of transliteration we must add also that the Boman- ised Tamil would have been easier to understand if the words had been separated from each other, as in English, instead of being so fused together that what looks like one unpronounceable polysylla­ble stands for four or five words, perhaps a whole sentence, of the Tamil language. In other words the Tamil Sandhi does not agree with the English alphabet.

We have noted these points in compliance with our convictions, but we may once more allude to the real worth of the book, and assure those for whose advantage it has been prepared that their true wisdom will be to procure it early and study it closèly.

LITERATURE. 63

64 LITERATURE.

Th e L ife of J, W. Colenso, D. D., B ishop of N a t a l ; By the Rev. Sir G. W. Cox, Bart, m .a .—This volume is in some important respects very disappointing. We have, however, nothing whatever in this place to do with the controversy about the Pentateuch. Colenso was a missionary as well as a scholar and a critic, and on some missionary questions he held very decided opinions. After seven years of work in Africa he wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury expressing the opinion that it was unwise to impose upon polygamous Kaffirs, as a condition precedent to baptism, the giving up all their wives but one. Colenso pointed out to the Archbishop that this condition was not laid down by Scripture, neither was it insisted on by the ancient Church. Of course he had no sym­pathy with polygamy. He felt strongly the force of the rebuke once administered by a venerable Bedouin Arab who had been addressed by an English officer in disparaging terms on account of his harem. “ Sir,” said the desert chief with flashing eyes, “ I have looked upon four women all my life, and they are all of them in my tent at this moment. Where, young man, are your women’?” The Arab knew the social habits of <many of England’s youth, and in his eyes they were not only vile, but cruel and unjust. Colenso believed that a man might be convinced of sin and find Christ without feeling that that to winch all his surroundings had accustomed him was sinful. Whatever may be said otherwise of his argument, it told tremendously against the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration. He said in effect that the moral state of many of the Kaffirs was better than that of many baptized Englishmen. Bishop Colenso, having once given himself to Africa, remained faithful to that continent, and in no ways spared himself, though his methods were often, and sometimes very properly, con­demned as impracticable and injudicious, and his opinions as danger­ously unscriptural.

Th e E ast Afkican Sla v e T r a d e .—What John Wesley called the “ execrable sum of all villainies” has not ceased in Africa. Now that slavery is abolished in the United States and interdicted in Brazil and Cuba, there is no demand for human flesh in the New W orld ; and as Africa was the happy hunting ground of all traffick­ers in men, the slave trade on the West Coast of Africa has ceased, and there is no longer need for ships flying the British flag to cruise along that coast. But unhappily in Egypt, Arabia, and Turkey the slave trade still flourishes. Poor Africa is still the chief source of the supply; and thousands of men and women, boys and girls, are yearly torn ruthlessly from their homes, subjected to various priva­tions and cruelty, and finally sold by wicked men for greed of gain. An interesting article in the Fortnightly Review calls attention to this traffic and points out a way by which it can be prevented. Mission­aries and travellers have repeatedly called attention to the caravans of slaves sent to the east coast, and have described some of the horrors of the trade. “ A slave-girl of one of the harems in Cairo used to tell how on her passage down the Nile, the boat being surprised at night by a search-party, she and her companions were thrown overboard with ropes under their arms, and under fearful threats were bidden to keep quiet under water.” In April 1866, a Swedish medical missionary travelled “ with a caravan of seven hundred slaves, all children except three. They had been captured or purchased, and were intended for the Jeddah market. The boys

LITERATURE. 65

had nearly all been made eunuchs.” Germany, Portugal, and Italy have now large tracts of land on the east coast of Africa. These nations should unite with England in keeping strict watch over the coast in order to capture slave dhows. International jealousy should not prevent a combination for this truly Christian work of ridding the world of one of its worst “ villainies.” The Indian Govern­ment has approved of the suggestion that the coast should be guard­ed by a strong naval force ; but an efficient watch has not been kept. Many slaves have been captured, and many slaves liberated; but much more remains to be done. The author of the article from which the above information has been gathered, sug­gests that an African coastguard should be organized by volunteers under the control of the Naval authorities. This is a suggestion truly Christian ; and we think there are many muscular Christians who would delight in seizing the rapacious slaver and delivering from his hands the prey doomed to a fate worse than death. We should rejoice to see the suggestion an accomplished fact.

AURORA L e i g h .—Last month Robert Browning spoke to us in these pages. It is fitting that we should note also what Mrs. Browning says bo appopriately to our work in her ‘ Aurora Leigh.’

4 W e must be here to work,And men who work can only work for men,And, not to work in vain, must comprehend Humanity, and so work humanly,And raise men’s bodies still by raising souls,As God did first.’

‘ But stand upon the earth,’I said, ‘ to raise them, (this is human too,There’s nothing high which has not first been low.My humbleness, said one, has made me great!)As God did last.’

‘ And work all silently And simply,’ he returned, ‘ as God does a l l ;Distort our nature never fo r our work ,Nor count our right hands stronger for being hoofs .The man most man, with tenderest human hands,Works best for men,—as God in Nazareth.’

‘ Distort our nature never for our work’ is a true precept, which St. Paul himself would have accepted along with his own saying about becoming all things to all men.

W il l E nglan d r e ta in I n d ia .— One of the most pessimistic articles on India we have ever read recently appeared in the Contem­porary Review with the above title from the pen of Mr. Meredith Townsend. A few sentences towards the close will indicate the style and drift of the composition :—

‘ ‘ India will fly in pieces ; the ancient hostilities of race, and creed, and history, none of which have we had time to'extinguish, will revive at once ; and life will again be made interesting as of old by incessant wars, invasions, and struggles for personal ascendancy. The railways, the only things we have built, will be tom up, the universities will be scouted by military rulers, the population will begin to decline, and, in short, for one word expresses it all, India will once more be Asiatic. Within fivp years of our departure we shall recognise fully that the greatest experiment ever made by Europe in Asia was but an experiment after a l l ; that the ineffaceable

66 A N ENGLISE OPINION OF TEE

distinctions of race were all against it from the first; and that the idea of the European tranquilly guiding, controlling, and perfecting the Asiatic until the worse qualities of his organization had gone out of him, though the noblest dream ever dreamed by man, was but a dream after all.”

Mr. Townsend has seen the marked advance of the educated native and the desire on the part of the Government to yield to reasonable demand, and then pours forth a Jeremiad of which the above is a specimen. If England were to retire now, the above is a tolerably faithful picture of what would probably happen; but no man in his senses ever dreams of such a th ing; and any “ ocracy” whether democracy or aristocracy, that would remove the white handful that now governs India, would deserve to be wiped off from the face of the earth. We should not touch this subject, did we not believe that Mr. Townsend has completely neglected two factors in making his calculations—both intimately connected with missions. First, he fails to estimate accurately the effect of English education. The whole tendency of it is on the side of law and order, truth and justice, as opposed to the divine right of kings. It is perfectly true the number thus educated is sm all; but they form the most powerful section of the community, and we cannot for a moment believe that they would lend themselves to the tearing up of railways and the complete shattering of the national aspirations so recently begotten. In the second place he does not take into consideration the work of Christian missions upon the life of the nation. Granted that the number of Christians is comparatively insignificant, yet the influence of Christianity is out of all proportion to the number of its adherents. We cannot believe that the Christian ideas that have been absorbed by the nation will allow India to fall back into a state of anarchy, savagery, and ruin. England must hold India till these two powers —English ideas and Christianity—have completely permeated the peoples of this land; and then we need not fear the result. ‘ ‘ Truth and justice, religion and piety” will then be established, and the nation can work out her own destiny under Him Who ruleth over all.

A N ENGLISH OPINION OF THE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE COMMOTION.

A correspondent sends us the following extract from an English friend’s letter :—The Christian College dispute has interested me very much. The facts were given in an article in the Leeds Mercury, entitled “ The War of the Creeds, or Town and Gown in India,” dated Madras, May 14th. The writer evidently thinks that the Hindu national movement may take a most decidedly anti-Christian turn, and he holds tha't Subaraya’ s baptism was only an occasion for the outburst of a feeling that has been growing for some time, and was fostered by the general tone of Hinduism outside the College,—the “ Society for the Propagation of true Religion” and such like forces. The active work of Brahman propagandists, the spreading broadcast o f anti-Christian tracts are in his opinion the true sources of the trouble.

But if all this be true, and one makes every allowance for it, I am Still forced to agree with him that the outbreak “ is calculated to leave

a melancholy impression on the mind as to the results of European education in India. Educationally no doubt great results have been achieved; but what of the moral effects, if at this late hour such scenes are possible over the alleged conversion of an obscure youth to Christianity ?” Mr. Hudson’s article in the Harvest Field is to me very disappointing. He seems to me to look upon the work of conversion as a sort o f game in which it didn’t much matter who won so long as the opponents played fairly. But the rules of a debating society don’t express the spirit that ought to guide ajChristian missionary. I f it really doesn’t much matter whether Subaraya con­fesses Christ or not, and it is our Christian duty to leave him quixotical­ly to be exposed to every influence that could lead him to make shipwreck of his profession, what fools the old martyrs were after all. One feels almost that Mr. Hudson would hardly know how to meet the students’ claim that the poor fellow was intellectually and morally bound to study the Vedas (and of course every other religion that turned up) before he was justified in giving himself to Christ.

When Mr. Hudson says (p 404) “ The students do not believe that the danger of conversion lies in the Scripture teaching,” he sees clearly enough that this is the key to the whole position ; but he seems to me curiously enough not to take account what lock it turns. I f the students feel in no “ danger” of conversion from the Scripture lessons, that is surely a very grave reflection on the character of those lessons. The Bible may be taught as theologically, historically, and accurately as it is at our Divinity Colleges without converting anybody sure enough, and if a missionary thinks that it isn’t “ fair play” to use all the “ influence of personal affection and persuasion,” if he discourages the students from following his example, till they are intellectually clear on the whole question of accepting the Chris­tian faith, I don’t see how he can hope for converts.

I f I myself—with Christian home and training—had waited till I was thoroughly intellectually convinced of all that is vital and necessary of Christian truth, I doubt if 1 would be baptised yet.

Is it so horrible that a student should “ consent to be baptised chiefly because the Mission desired it r So did not Paul think when Agrippa taunted him with trying “ with a little persuasion” to make him a Christian. And it is an unfair dilemma that Mr. Hudson tries to fix upon opponents. To publish plainly that the chief object is conversion (which the College assuredly ought to do) is not to slight education or make it any less thorough. It is’nt an extra hour’s Scripture, or another class omitted that will produce conversions—but the conviction in the minds of the students that the missionaries absolutely believe in their message, and believe that it is more important than all the world besides to the students, and that Christ is not a historical personage merely, to be argued about, but a living presence to be received—and able to save their souls.

I must say your letters make me a thousand times more hopeful of Salvation Army Christianity in India than of the educational sort. And I can’t help doubting whether these Bible students who believe in the Vedas “ in their own way” are at all the nearer to Christianity for their knowledge, if Christianity means absolute personal devotion to Christ, and really that is the only kind o f Christianity I pray for myself, or care much to make other people converts to.

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE COMMOTION. 67

68 SIR CHARLES AIT0EIS01PS SPUME.

SIR CHARLES AITCHISQWS SPEECH.

We are indebted to the Englishman for the following report of Sir Gharles Aitchison’s speech to which we called attention last month.

“ One hears in these days a good deal of adverse criticism upon mission work. There appears sometimes a disposition to depreciate it, to demand statistics of conversions, and to measure success by sta­tistical tables. Now, while I do not admit that statistics can ever be an adequate test of moral and spiritual work, I do not for a moment call in question their importance in the mission field as in every other field of observation and enquiry. Fortunately, in this country at least, missionaries have no reason to shrink from the touch of scientific criticism; and perhaps it may surprise some who have not had an opportunity of looking into the matter to learn that Christianity in India is spreading four or five times as fast the ordinary population, and that the native Christians now number nearly a million of souls. I f we turn to the census report of 1881, for example, we shall find that in the Madras Presidency , which is the great home of the Native Church, the population actually decreased within vthe ten years, preceding the census, while the Christians of all denominations increased by 165,682, or more than 30 per cent. The vast majority of these Christians, the report goes on to say, are Hindu converts or the descendants of Hindu converts.

They are to be found in every district, belonging for the most part to the poorer classes and drawn from the lower castes. Unfor­tunately I have not been able to get precise information regarding Burma and Bombay. But coming to Bengal, we all know there has been an enormous increase of population in that Province : the census report puts it down at 10'89 per cent. The advance in the Christian population, however, is more than 40 per cent. But what is most remarkable is the fact that, while the increase among Christians of all other races is only 7 per cent., the increase among Native Chris­tians is actually 64 per cent., the rate of increase being six timesthat of the ordinary population. The progress made in the spread of Christianity during the last nine years, says the census report, is one of the most interesting facts brought out by the census just taken. This increase is far too large to be explained by the theory of natural productiveness. It is due chiefly to conversions from heathendom. The Native Christians are the most rapidly progressing class in Bengal. Out of the whole number of 86,306 more than one-third, or 35,992, are found in Lohardagga, where a German Protestant missionary has long been labouring among the aboriginal and semi- Hinduised tribes of that district. Next in the N. W. Provinces the population increased 6 per cent. The number of Native Christians rose from 7,648 to 11,823, being 54 per cent., or at the rate of 6 per cent a year: exactly nine times as fast as the total population. ‘ This'increase,’ says the Census Commissioner, ‘ extends to every division of the North-Western Provinces except Jhansi. In the Punjaub there is the same story to tell. The population increased 7 per cent. The Hindu and Muhammadan religions are practically stationary, having increased only a fraction of 1 per cent: the Sikh religion has declined. The Christian religion has increased 38| per cent., being more than five times as fast as the population. I

cannot separate the figures as between Native Christians and others, but you can draw your own conclusion from the fact that, while in 1851 there was not, so far as is known, a single Native Christian in the Punjaub, the number in 1881 was 3,912.”

After alluding to the objection that converts are drawn chiefly from the poor and degraded castes and showing that this remark is 18 centuries old the speaker added:—

“ But the Gospel claims its trophies among the humble-hearted of all ranks and classes. I personally know many converts o f good birth and superior education. Some are at this moment serving Govern­ment in the Punjaub with credit and distinction. One of the most hopeful results of mission work is the leaven which is silently infusing through native society and vernacular literature—ideas of integrity, honour, philanthropy, truth, purity, and holiness that are distinctively Christian.

In every movement for the welfare of the people too, Christian missionaries have led the van. Their services to education are recognised even by their enemies. The advanced schools of modem religious thought in India are the outcome of Christian teaching.

The missionaries were the first to awaken an interest in the welfare of the women of India. And even in the magnificent work of philan­thropy, with which the name of the first lady in the land is imper- ishably associated, missionaries were the pioneers. ‘ I believe.’ said Lord Lawrence towards the close of his life ‘ notwithstanding all that people have done to benefit that country (India,) the mission­aries have done more than all other agencies combined.’ In this Province of the Punjaub the labours of missionaries have always been highly valued and cordially recognised, and I desire in this place personally to acknowledge my own obligations to them. The coun­tenance and active assistance given to Christian missionaries by the Governors of the Punjaub have become traditional. It is a singular fact that many of the most important missions of the Church Mis­sionary Society in the Punjaub have been founded by Christian laymen in the service o f Government.

Here in Simla and the neighbouring station of Kotgurh a mis­sion was first established in 1840 through the efforts o f Mr. Gordon, o f the Civil Service, Major Boileau, and other pious officers. It was an appeal made by military and civil officers that led to the estab­lishment of the Punjaub Mission in 1852. At the first meeting held at Lahore resolutions were moved by Sir Robert Montgomery and Sir John Lawrence. Sir Henry Lawrence became President of the Association, and the list of corresponding members contains the names of many of the most distinguished cavil and military officers at the time serving in the Province. It was Major Mertin and Sir Herbert Edwardes who in 1853 established the now famous mission at Peshawar. I f you were asked to put your finger on the most turbu­lent and fanatical city in all India, and on the most unpromising place for the establishment of a mission, you would probably place at on Peshawar. When the subscription list first went round an officer thought it a good joke to put down his name for ‘ one rupee towards a Deane and Adam* revolver for the first missionary.’ Dr. Pfander was Warned that if he attempted to preaeh in the city he would be killed. Boat Edwardes had no fear. All through the Mutiny Dr. Pfander never ceased street preaching, Bible in hand, and on no .occasion was violence ever offered to him. Then the

SIR CHARLES AITCHISOX'S SPEECH. . 69

10

70 THE LAST MO VE IN TONG A N CHURCH AFFAIRS.

Kangra Mission owes its origin in 1854 to Sir Donald Macleod who also suggested the establishment of the Mooltan Mission in 1856- In 1861 the Derajat Mission was found by Colonel Reynell Taylor, the Bayard of the Punjaub. The Kashmir Mission in 1862 was un­dertaken on the advice of Sir Robert Montgomery. And now, has i‘t struck you that the men I have named, who were foremost in the encouragement of missionary work, who honoured their Lord and confessed him before men, were the best and most distin­guished administrators the Punjaub has known—men whose names are most honoured and esteemed among the people ? Lawrence, Mont­gomery, Edwardes, Macleod, Reynell Taylor—their names are household words in this Province; some of them beyond it—even in Europe and wherever Indian history is read. And now the mission stations which they planted in our frontier Province stand as advan­ced posts of the army of the Lord facing towards the vast regions of Central Asia, ready at command to go up and possess the land.”

TEE LAST MOVE IN TONGAN CEURCE AFFAIRS.

At the General Wesleyan Conference just held in Melbourne an important resolution was agreed to in reference to affairs in Tonga. It will be in the recollection of our readers that last year Sir Charles Mitchell, Her Majesty’s High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, visited Tonga and inquired carefully into the persecutions which had been carried on there. The Report was wholly favourable to Mr. Moulton and those who had stood by him, and strongly condemna­tory in many ways of Mr. Shirley Baker, the Tongan Premier. Sir Charles Mitchell said, “ The patience with which the Wesleyans endured their troubles astonishes me, and I can only attribute it to the good influences and pacific counsels of Mr. M o u l t o n w h i l e of Mr. Baker he said— ‘ ‘ I have received evidence that would, in my opinion, and in that of the Chief Judical Commissioner, justify my putting in force against Mr. Baker the power entrusted to me, under the Western Pacific Order-in-Council, of prohibiting a British subject who is dangerous to the peace and good order of the Western Pacific from remaining within such limits as I may deem necessary.” A t the same time the High Commissioner felt that King George’s mind had been so prejudiced against Mr. Moulton that the only prospect of a speedy settlement of the difficulty lay in Mr. Moulton’s retirement. This was resisted by some for a time, partly because it seemed like giving the victory unworthily to Mr. Baker, and partly because loyal We6leyans in those islands would be likely to interpret it into a desertion Of them in their extremity. At this last General Conference a request from King George was presented that the “ Free Church of Tonga,” in spite of its dubious origin dnd curious history, should be affiliated sans phrase with the Wesleyan churches of Australia as a sister Conference. This request was, for the present at any rate, declined. Mr. Moulton, however, volunteered to with­draw from Tonga, on the understanding that the Rev. George Brown should be sent there as a Commissioner from the General Conference, to discover, if possible, a means of honourable and lasting reunion. He thought that “ Mr. Brown was a most capable man, and though

it -would require another Baker to deal with that gentleman, yet Mr. Baker would have in Mr. Brown one of the toughest morsel? he had ever had to deal with.” Mr. Brown has been Secretary of Australasian Missions but consented to undertake the extremely delicate task assigned to him. In the meantime Mr. Moulton retires to Sydney, there to carry out certain projects in reference to the lite­rature of Tonga on which he has been engaged several years. The most sanguine hopes are entertained in regard to Mr. Brown’s commissionership. And as the Melbourne Daily Telegraph says, “ A native church in Tonga, wisely organised and under adequate leadership, might be a great success, and set a precedent which other i\ewly Christianised races might follow. But a native church, born in secession and baptized in persecution, tom rudely and with violence from the church whose natural offspring it is, and used as the t :ol of a jealous and angry man, could have nothing but disaster before it. And it would surely be a loss to the world if the Christi­anity and civilization of Tonga were thus wrecked. Who would not welcome the spectacle of native Christian States rising, as the fruits of Christian Missions, in the Pacific ?”

JSRIEF BULLETINS FROM MANY LANDS. 71

B R IE F B U L L E T IN S F R O M M A N Y L A N D S .

Bishop William Taylor, says the New York Tribune, is now ap­proaching his seventieth year, but his form is as straight and vigor­ous as that of the youngest Bishop in the Methodist Church. His hair is grey, but not white; his beard is long, and his face tanned by exposure. In appearance his tall, straight figure and bright eyes suggest the picture of John Brown, and friends who have known him for many years say that there is a resemblance in his determina­tion and perseverance to the great Abolitionist; but his supporters are more fond of comparing him to St. Paiil, and of terming him the hero of Methodism.

The Ceylon Government has granted to the Rev. S. Langdon 200 acres of land for an Industrial School and Farm in connection with his Uva Mission, and has rendered substantial help also in other ways.

Dr. Happer, who has spent forty years as a missionary in China, has succeded in raising during a recent visit to the United States, a sum of not less than £60,000. This money is to be applied to the establishment and suitable endowment of aChinese ‘ ‘ Christian College” in Canton, the object of which is, according to the prospectus, “ to raise up educated men to be Christian ministers, teachers, physicians, &e., by teaching Western science, medicine, and religion.” None of the funds 'have been derived from ordinary missionary sources, but have been wholly contributed for this special object. They have been placed in the hands of an influential body of trustees incor­porated in the United States, who will select the faculty o f the Insti­tution, and appoint a local Board of Directors in Canton. Pending the erection of suitable buildings, the professors are to commence work in rooms rented temporarily. Who shall say that interest in missions is declining, when an immense sum like this is given readily for a single object ?

In times past the Government of Holland has done nothing for missions. Now, however, the Government has thrown open the doors of Dutch India to missionaries. In a recent circular their Secretary of State for the colonies has stated that Government would be very glad if the missionary Societies Wvuld increase their numbers in Dutch India-^a very remarkable invitation from such a quarter.

It is advocated in responsible quarters that the ten European missionaries in Fiji should be immediately reduced in number by two, with the prospect of a further similar reduction in the near future.

Twenty-nine years ago the Presbyterian Mission in Brazil was begun. There is now a presbytery with 50 churches and 32 ministers. Twelve of the latter are natives.

There is in China on every hand a growing and marked willingness to hear and to accept the truth of Christ. Although all Japan seems turning to Christianity, yet the slow increments of China equal or even exceed the rapid ones of Japan, the yearly accessions in the for­mer being a little in advance of the latter. The whole number of communicants in China now is over 32,000, while those in Japan are over 19,000. In each country over 4,000 were added last year.

There are no Protestant missionaries in Beloochistan, Afghanistan, in the French possessions of Anam and Tonquin, nor in Siberia and the adjoining countries under Russian rule.

The Salvation Army has entered Africa with a determination that is commendable. Colonel Thurman has made a fourteen months’ earn- paign in Zululand. He reports sixty stations and 150 officers. They travel in bullock wagons and on horseback. Eighteen corps are coloured; the rest are cosmopolitan.

In a letter to The Times, Rev. R. P. Ashe,late of the C.M.S., writing from Usambiro,draws timely and forcible attention to the daily increas­ing scandal of the importation of arms into the interior of Africa. He states that an English trader is sending toUganda a hundred rifles and twenty thousand rounds of ammunition, and that Arab traders are also supplying KingMwanga with hundreds of old English rifles, and gun­powder ad lib. It is pointed out that apart from the disastrous effect of placing such means of destruction in the hands of a young barba­rian king, such action is calculated to prejudice the position of Emin Pasha and Stanley, and presents the deplorable spectacle of “ English­men relieving Emin Pasha from the West, and an Englishman reliev­ing King Mwanga from the East.”

At the late. International Missionary Conference in London a resolution was passed unanimously deputing a small committee to proceed to Belgium, to put before the king of the Belgians the views of the conference respecting the liquor traffic in the Congo Free State.

In the island of Formosa 4,000 persons are in the full communion of the church and there is a professing Christian community of twice that number. The whole southern part of the island has been evangelised by native agents. The churches there now are not only self-supporting but self-propagating. They have started two native missions entirely supported by native means and worked by native missionaries.

72 BRIEF BULLETINS FROM MANY LANDS.